I've completed almost all requirements. My last evaluation is the first week in September.

About a week ago I had a sudden strong sense of dread set in about being one of the small few who suffer serious complications. I try to keep abreast of the complication stories so I am prepared and I think now that I'm close to go time, the complications page has finally scared me...significantly and seriously. I don't want to end up in the ICU for weeks or months. I can't be away from my family like that. I can't be away from work like that. I've been thinking that I shouldn't do this.

I have had 7 prior surgeries. I've never been scared, but I've also never sought out stories on complications either for those other surgeries.

Please talk me off this ledge. I am a very rational person and I know this is good for my future. I know chances of complications are low. I have worked so hard over the last 6 months, I can't give this progress up, but I also can't shake this sense of dread. Anyone else go thru this and how did you cope with the fear?

Edited August 27, 201510 yr by HopeandAgony

Research your surgeon and follow his or her instructions. My surgeon said that 50% of leaks are caught while you are still in the hospital. The second half are generally caused by not following the rules (50% of the remaining complications). That leaves very good odds of being fine!

Follow the rules in hospital and at home. They do a test the day after surgury to check for leaks you wear compression sox and they check on you continuously. There are no guarantees but trust your care givers and surgeon.

I was scared prior to surgery, really scared. BUT, my primary doctor had told me that I was a walking time bomb. I could have had a stroke or heart attack on any given day. Living with that feeling every day was scarier to me than the risks of surgery, At least I felt like I had some control of one of the situations! I finally realized that I could sit back and do nothing or take a risk and get healthy.

Risk vs benefit, my dear. The benefits FAR outweigh the risk.